Armor exploding projectile.



A. WRATZKB.

ARMOR BXPLODING PBOJEOTILE. PPPPPPPPPPPPPPP n no. 111111 7.

905,042. Patented Nov. 24. 1903.

projectile of this type.

of which does not become prematurely ig the following manner:

ALFRED WRATZKE, OF ESSEN-ON-THE-RUH it, GERMANY, ASSHHJUK 'lt) Fltll ll). liltlill AK'IIE'NGESELLSCHAFT. OF ESSi-lY-UN-Tllll-RUHR, GERMANY.

ABMOB EXPLODING PROJEGTILE Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 24, 1808.

Application flied December M, 1907. Serial No. 406,540.

To all whom it may concern le it known that l. Atrium \Vm'rzun. a

subject of the I'lniperor of (lei-many. and a resident of Essen on the Ruhr. (ircrniany, have invented certain new and useful linprovenients in Armor Exploding Projectiles. of which the following is a specification.

The present invention relates to ti1'Ifl0l',l-.'X' plodiug projectiles having a hollow space containing one or more chambers. the ho low space being gradually tapered towards the projectile-point for convenience of manufacturc.

The object of the invention to provide a the bursting charge nited by the concussion when the projectile hits the armoigand which furthermore is of very simple construction.

The object of the invention is attained in The bursting medium contained in each chamber of the projectile is arranged in such a manner that its .cross-sectional area nearest the projectile' point receives the pressiu-e of the entire charge of the chamber when the pro ectile hits the armor. Furthermore. the bursting charge of the chamber nea rest the projectile.

point lies with an abutting surface against a member arranged in the reduced portion of the chamber. the abutting surface being of such area that the bursting charge cannot become ignited by the concussion which takes place when the projectile hits the armor. Finally provision is made for retarding the transmission of the tire from the fuse to the bursting charge.

In the accompanying drawin s. Figure 1 shows an axial longitudinal section of one embodiment of the invention in the form of a two-chainbered projectile; Fig. 2 is a. longitudinal section of the fuse, on an enlarged scale: Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section ot' the sleeve containing the retarding composition, the view being. on an enlarged scale; and

Fig. -l is an axial longitudinal section of an-' other embodiment of the invention in the form of a singlechainbered projectile.

In the embodiment shown in Figs. 1 to 3 the hollow space of the projectile-point A which tapers to 'ards the projectile-point is -c'hambcr a which charge of the divided into two chambers. viz. the pointchamber a and tire.basechaniber (1 through i the medium of a plate Ii having pcrtorir tions b. y I

In the front part of the point'chauiber o is arranged a wooden body which snugly tits the chamber a and which has its bottom surface at right angles to the axis of the pro jectilc. The remaining hollow space of the chamber (1 is tilled with a body I. consisting of a high-explosive material which is inclosed in a card-board shell l.) and forms a part of the bursting charge of the project ilc.

The abutting surface which thewoodcn body pres nts to the bursting charge of the chamber a is so great that the specific surface prcssure. whichis exerted by the bursting charge on the body C when the projectile hits the armor. cannot cause ignition oi the bursting medium.

'lhe base-chamber 1" of the projectilebody A is closed by a .base-screw I) which receives the detonator-screw F that projects into thechamber (c'. Into the rear part oi the detonator-screw pact-fuse H which lias renio\'ably applied thereon the sleeve .l cbntaining a retarding composition i. The impact-fuse ll and the sleeve J are shown in section and on an en larged scale in Figs. 2 and 3.

The part of the hollow space of the baseis not occupied by the detonator-screw F is filled with a body I. consisting of high-explosive material and forming the second part of the bursting projectile. 'lhe. body it" is inolosed in a card-board shell K.

If the armor-projectile is fired against an armor, the body L of bursting material lies with great pressureagainst the abutting surface of the body when the projectile hits the armor. However. by ,reason of the reat area of the abutting surface of the ody this pressure cannot cause, ignition. as would be feared if the bursting material also. filled the space of the chamber a that is occupied by the body C.

By reasouot the insertion of the retarding composition 5- the impact-fuse H, which vhas its igniting pellet struck at the moment the projectile hits the target. cannot .efiect F is screwed the iiu- (S ll immediate ignition of the detonator and of the bursting charge. The projectile will, therefore, first penetrate into or through the armor before the bursting charge is detonated.

If the projectile is to be discharged against a target which has "less resistance it may be advisable to screw the fuse H out of the projectile prior to firing, whereupon the sleeve J with the retarding composition is removed and the fuse is again inserted. The bursting charge of the projectile will then be detonated at the moment the projectile hits the target.

The embodiment shown in Fig. 4 differs from the embodiment just described in having the hollow space of the projectile-body A formed with only one chamber, while the bursting charge consists of a single bod L of high-explosive bursting material an arranged in a card-board shell M.

The filling body C need not be made from wood, nor need it completely fill the front part of the hollow space of the projectile. It is merely necessary that it consists ofa material that is only compressible to a slight extent (metal, colophonlum, powder, etc.) and that it resents the required abutting surface for the burstin char e. As filling bod may even be use liqui inclosed in a shell.

Instead of the impact-fuse with a removable sleeve containing a retarding composition an impact-fuse may be used which has a delay action means permanently connected thereto. Furthermore one can also use an impact-fuse with delay action means that can be switched in and out.

Particular attention is called to the fact that it is old to provide projectiles with tapering hollow spaces having one or more chambers, in which the bursting material contained in each chamber is arranged in such a manner that its cross-sectional area nearest the projectile-point receives the pressure of the total charge of the chamber on impact. Furthermore it is not new to fill the reduced portion of the hollow space of .the projectile with an elastic or inelastic body, However, this known arrangement is for a urpose that is totally different from that of the body C of the projectile according to the present invention.

inally 1t of course also old to provide armor-projectiles with devices for retarding the transmission of the fire from the fuse to the burstin charge.

The sing e parts of the armor-projectile according to the present invention are, therefore, known per se, and the invention con sists merely in the successful combination of these known details. Through this combi-- nation an armor-projectile is obtained which is of extremely simple construction and in which accidental ignition of the bursting charge by the concussion due to the pro jecti e hitting the armor is safely avoided.

Havin thus described the invention, what is claime and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. In an armor-projectile having a hollow space tapering towards the projectile-point, t e combination of a bursting charge arranged in the hollow space and having its cross-sectional area nearest the projectilepoint receiving the total pressure of the charge on impact; a solid body arranged in the reduced portionof the hollow space and having an abutting surface a ainst which the bursting charge lies, of suflicient area to prevent ignition of the burstin charge by concussion when the projectile liits the armor; a fuse adapted to be ignited at the instant of impact; and means adapted to retard the transmission of fire from the fuse to the bursting charge.

2. In an armor-projectile having a hollow space tapering towards the projectile point and a plurality of chambers, the combination of a bursting charge arranged in each of said chambers and havin its cross-sectional area nearest the projectile point receiving the total pressure of the charge of the chamber on impact; a solid body arranged in the reduced end of the hollow space and having an abutting surface against which lies the bursting charge of the chamber nearest the projectile-point, said abutting surface bein of an area suflicient to prevent ignition o the bursting char e by the concussion caused by the pro ectile itting the armor; a fuse actuated by the impact of the projectile upon the target; and means interposed between the end of the fuse and the bursting charge, said means being adapted to retard the transmission of fire from the fuse to the bursting char e.

3. u an armor-projectile having a hol lowed tapering point, the combination of a bursting. charge arranged in the hollow space a solid ody arranged in the reduced end of the hollow space and having an abutting ,surface a ainst which lies the bursting charge-said a utting surface being of an area sufficient to prevent ignition of the burstingcharge by the concussion caused by the projectile hitting the armor; a. fuse adapted to be ignited by longitudinal displacement at the instant of impact; and means separating the fuse from the charge, whereby the transmission of fire from the fuse to the burstin charge is delayed.

The regomg specification signed at Dusseldorf, Germany, this 29th day of November,

ALFRED wsa'rzmc.

In presence of' VVILHELM FLASCHE, C. M. RURAMY. 

